Tributes after tile artist dies

A tile designer who helped create some of the prominent pieces at Jackfield Tile Museum has died aged 96. A tile designer who helped create some of the prominent pieces at Jackfield Tile Museum has died aged 96. William Earnest Harper, of Oreton, near Bridgnorth, was responsible for much of the pre-World War II designs now showing at the tourist attraction in Ironbridge. His designs include a giant peacock - one of the museum's centrepieces. Great-grandfather Mr Harper died last Thursday. His family today paid tribute to him. Daughter Joan Philips, one of his two children, said he had been very proud of the tiles he designed for Jackfield. Check out the photo gallery below and read the full story in today's Shropshire Star

William Harper's peacock tiles A tile designer who helped create some of the prominent pieces at Jackfield Tile Museum has died aged 96.

William Earnest Harper, of Oreton, near Bridgnorth, was responsible for much of the pre-World War II designs now showing at the tourist attraction in Ironbridge.

Check out the photo gallery below

His designs include a giant peacock - one of the museum's centrepieces. Great-grandfather Mr Harper died last Thursday. His family today paid tribute to him.

Daughter Joan Philips, one of his two children, said he had been very proud of the tiles he designed for Jackfield.

She said: "They have still got a number of tiles at the museum which he designed. One in particular stands out which is of a peacock.

"When I went to the registrar to inform them of his death the man asked what Dad did and I told him about his tile designing and he mentioned the peacock design straight away. It is memorable.

"Some of my grandchildren have been to the museum on school trips and they came back saying they'd seen the design.

"He was born in Jackfield and designed tiles until he was called up for World War II. When he came back he became an engineer for Ferguson tractors. They used to call him the flying doctor because he would go round all the farms in the area and fix tractors.

"He was very proud of his tile designs though. They were very popular. He went back to the museum a lot and would talk to children about how he made them because they use different methods these days. He was very artistic and had so many paintings that he had done.

"He was a very quiet man who kept himself to himself but a lot of people knew him because of his work. They used to use his designs in butcher's shops and in hospitals too."

Tile museum curator Michael Vanns said: "Bill Harper was a tube liner at Maw and Co in the 1930s. One of the finest examples of his work was a peacock panel that is still proudly on display at Jackfield Tile Museum."

Mr Harper's funeral will be held at Stottesdon Church on Thursday at 2pm.

William Harper's peacock tiles.